Caries prior to age 3 and breastfeeding: a survey of La Leche League members
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Assessment of the Efficacy of An Osteopathic Treatment in Infants with Biomechanical Impairments to Suckling
Published on: February 5, 2019
Karin Weber-Gasparoni1, Michael J Kanellis, Steven M Levy
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Iowa, IA City, Iowa, USA. karin-weber@uiowa.edu
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to conduct a secondary data analysis of results from a 1985 survey of La Leche League International (LLLI) members to further investigate the relationship between breast-feeding and caries prior to age 3 (CPA3).
Methods:
Subjects were 576 LLLI mothers who responded to a 23-item questionnaire concerning the following factors for their oldest child: (1) breast-feeding habits; (2) fluoride status; (3) use of antibiotics; (4) carbohydrate ingestion; (5) history of caries; and (6) oral hygiene practices.
Results:
CPA3 was reported in 10% of all children breast-fed for more than 3 years. Later weaning was found to be significantly associated with CPA3 (odds ratio [OR]=2.03; P=.0001). Late initiation of oral hygiene was marginally associated with CPA3 (OR=0.77; P=.08). Among children who developed CPA3, bivariate analyses found a greater frequency of breast-feeding (P=.012) and presence of night-time breast-feeding (P=.049) to be associated with caries detected at an earlier age. Children with caries on their maxillary incisors were more likely to have been breast-fed at night (P=.027) and more frequently during the night (P=.032).
Conclusion:
This retrospective study, based on a report of La Leche League International members, found later weaning to be significantly associated with an increased likelihood of developing CPA3.
Related Concept Videos
Development of the Oral Microbiota
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Development of Human Microbiota
Psychosexual Stages of Personality: Oral
Weaning, typically occurring around the age...
Parental Care
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.

